On Thursday February 6,2020 the Lawrence County Beekeepers Association held a Beginners Beekeeping Class at the Lawrence County Extension Office.
Nathan Salyers and Rebecca Delong were the guest speakers. They discussed how if a person is interested in Beekeeping, they should take a class and do some research before jumping in and getting them. See what you’re getting into. It’s not cheap keeping beehives. They said around $650.00 to start a bee hive, this is just an estimate. You would need a veil, bee gloves, bee Jacket and then buy or build a bee hive.
BEGINNER BEEKEEPING STEPS TO GET YOU STARTED WITH A TOP BAR HIVE
If you are just starting beekeeping or thinking about starting, then this is the time to catch the wave to get setup for bee season. The first year of caring for bees in the top bar hive is a simple setup.
You will need to:
1) Purchase or build a hive
2) Find a resource and order bees(buying bees locally would help your community and the bees will be used to the temperatures in your area).
3) Find a location for your hive
4) Purchase protective clothing
5) Learn all you can about beekeeping!
6) Coat the top bars with beeswax
7) Install the swarm or package of bees
Usually when you have a bee hive you will not get honey the first year, it will take a year or two. It is better to have more than one hive, so you can help out the hives if their queen leaves or you need more bees in one hive or whatever they may need. Keep your bees hives facing East for full sun. It is always best, if you need to get into your bees hive to do so in the sun. They may be angrier when it is cloudy and you open the box. If you have any questions about Beekeeping contact your local Beekeepers Association.
In April the Beekeepers Club is going to try to take a trip around to other beekeepers and see how they do their work. You can always learn different methods of beekeeping and different ways by visiting each other, and checking out each other’s hives. Everyone enjoyed the class and had a nice dinner as well!
The only suggestion I would have, is to stress the absolute importance bees provide to the human race, and what a brief period we would have without one of Gods most important creations.